Cholesterol has gone up ever since my thyroid went bad. why put me on statins?

Talk to your doctor: Not sure what you mean by "thyroid went bad" but in general, if you are hypothyroid, we should treat the hypothyroidism first to see your actual baseline cholesterol level but it also depends on where your level is at now and your risk factors. Your doctor could explain the reason why he/she thinks it's necessary to start a statin now.

Depends.: Most guidelines suggest managing your thyroid condition prior to considering treatment for cholesterol. However if your thyroid is appropriately managed and your lipids are still high or your lipids are exceptionally high it may be wise to consider treating them sooner.